Electrical cutout



w. o. SCHULTZ mum. cum-our Jan. 3, 1950 Original Filed larch 6, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W/Zl/flM 0. 5090172 fl w 4 2)" Jan. 3, 1950 w. 6. SCHUL'IZ 2,493,317 smacwnxcu. comm ori nial Filedllarch s, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1950 w w. o. $CHIJLTZ 2,493,317

ELECTRICAL curour Original Filed'larch 6, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a n 3 706. am 5 a 1 A A 5 i 4 4 (0+0 0 4/ A. 6

Jan. 3, 1950 w. o. SCHULTZ 2,493,317

smcmucn. curou'r Original Filed Mar h s, 1946 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a. 85 7 j \L 79 78 63 84' it 7 77 1 77 ask-": 25 8+ 82 32 82 (,1 T

I u 63 INVENTOR. w WILL/AN 0. SCHULTZ BY v 3/ W44 W ATTORNEY. v

Patented Jan. 3, 1950 ELECTRICAL CUTOUT William 0. Schultz, South Milwaukee, Wis., as-

signor to Line Material Company,

Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 6, 1946, Serial No.

652,323. Divided and this application September 10, 1947, Serial No. 773,126

2 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical cut-outs and is particularly directed to oil fuse cut-outs.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 652,323, filed March 6, 1946, for Electrical cut-out, assigned to the same assignee as this application.

Objects of this invention are to provide a housed type of oil fuse cut-out which is so constructed that it will automatically open the circuit on overload and which may be opened manually underload and which is arranged to insure the immediate extinction of any arc. that may be formed, either due to automatic or man ual opening of the circuit.

Further objects are to provide an oil fuse cutout which is equipped with a housing in which are located concentric cylinders formed of insulating material with stationary contacts carried on the inner side of the inner cylinder, with the cylinders open at their upper and lower ends and with the incoming leads positioned between the cylinders, thus affording a high degree of protection.

Further objects are to provide an oil fuse cutout in which a housing is provided with an open upper end through which a combined switch element and fuse carrier is adapted to be inserted in only one position corresponding to switch open position, which is provided with a cover portion adapted to close the open end of the housing and which has a yoke or bail-like member pivoted on the housing and provided with means for locking the cover to the housing, the yoke being so arranged that it coacts with manually operable means to prevent operation of the switch when the yoke is rocked downwardly to allow removal of the cover, the coaction of the combined switch element and fuse carrier and the housing being such as to prevent removal of the combined switch element and fuse carrier unless the parts are in open switch position.

Further objects are to provide a novel form of throw-out mechanism in which a floating lever assembly is employed and is spring urged in a manner to tension a fuse link when in circuit closed position and to throw out any remaining portions of the fuse link on rupture thereof and which coacts with the stationary contacts in a manner to provide a heavy yielding contact pressure between the floating lever assembly and the stationary contacts.

Further objects are to provide a fuse link throw-out construction for an oil switch which is so made that no tension is imposed on the fuse link when the switch is in switch open position, 55

but is arranged to tension the fuse link when the switch is in closed position.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide a novel manner of mounting the stationary contacts so that they are firmly and securely mounted on the innermost part of two concentric insulating cylinders with the lead receiving portion of the contacts located between the cylinders.

Further objects are to provide an oil fuse cutout construction in which a very short fuse link is employed, in which there is no chance of any portion of the fuse link dropping downwardly after rupture of the fuse link, in which a short relatively heavy fiber or other insulating tubular member is provided for the fuse link and is carried in an insulating rotary combined switch element and fuse carrier, in which the tubular member which receives the fuse is open at both ends and is relatively short and insures extinction of the are by the expulsion of the oil and gases from both ends of the tube while at the same time preventing the building up of excessive pressure within the tube.

Further objects are to provide a construction in which extreme rigidity and strength is obtained for the several parts of the device, in which the concentric insulating cylinders are securely held in a positive and rigid manner to the housing, in which adequate means are provided for protecting the tie bolts Or other members that hold the concentric tubular cylinders in place, and in which there is no chance of the are striking from any of the contacts to any of the metal portions of the housing or other parts of the apparatus.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompany drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on the line l-l of Figure 3, however, showing the yoke in its normal or vertical position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 3 and similarly to Figure 1 showing the yoke in its normal vertical position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, however, showing the yoke rocked downwardly to its horizontal position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 01 Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of the combined switch element and fuse carrier showing the parts in the position they occupy when in switch open position and when the fuse link is not ruptured.

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 6,

occupyin switch closed position.

Figure "8 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 showing the position of the parts after rupture of the fuse link.

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure '7 showing a further form of combined switch element and fuse carrier showing the parts in the position they occupy when the switch is in closed position and when the fuse link is not ruptured.

Figure 10 is a face view of the movable contact assembly.

Figure 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 9 showing the parts in the position they occupy when the switch is in switch open position.

Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 9 showing the switch in closed position and showing the position that the parts occupy when the fuse has been ruptured.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the electrical cut-out comprises a casing having a lower portion l, a bottom portion 2 and an upper however, snowing the parts in the position they 4 stationary contacts I! are indicated by the rererence character 2|, in Figures 2 and 5.

It will be seen from the description thus far given that the stationary contacts are mounted on the inner side of the innermost insulating cylinders and have integral projecting portions extending upwardly into the space between the concentric cylinders I2 and I3, see Figure 2,,which portions receive the leads 5. From the above description it will be seen that the leads 6 are housed for the portion thereof adjacent the stationary contacts in the space between the concentric cylinders and consequently there is no chance of any are reaching the leads. Further it is to be understood from reference to Figure 2, for instance, that the inner side of the lower portion l of the housing is lined with fiber or other suitable insulation indicated by the reference character portion 3. The upper portion is provided with a circular opening 4 and with a laterally and downwardly extending portion 5 through which the leads or conductors 6 extend, such conductors projecting through suitable insulating bushings I. It is preferable to at least partially fill the portion 5 with an insulating sealing compound indicated at 8. The housing is adapted to be filled with oil or other suitable insulating liquid to approximately the level indicated by the dotted line 9 in Figure 2, a suitable plug 10 being provided. The casing is equipped with any suitable means such as the feet I], whereby it may be attached to a suitable support, not shown.

A pair of concentric insulating'cylinders are positioned within the housing. The innermost cylinder is indicated by the reference character l2 and the outermost cylinder by the reference character l3. These cylinders are spaced apart and are open at their upper and lower ends. Theupper ends of the cylinders bear against three or more inwardly projecting lugs 14 and are held against such lugs by means of tie bolts IS. The tie bolts or elongated screws 15 are provided at their lower ends with downwardly extending insulating sheath-like members It which have reduced portions l'l located in the space between the concentric cylinders I2 and I3 as shown most clearly in Figure 1. Thus the tie bolts are housed for the major part of their length jointly by the concentric cylinders and by the sheath or insulating thimbles It.

A pair of diametrically opposed stationary con tacts I 8 are positioned on the inner side of the innermost cylinder, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 5. These stationary contacts II are secured in place by means of. screws I! which.

extend from the outer side of the innermost insulating cylinder l2 'into the stationary contacts It. The stationary contacts l8, it will be noted, are extended in one direction and may be abruptly cut oil in the other direction, as shown in Figure 5, so as to permit the free riding of the movable contacts over the extended portion of the stationary contacts I! as will appear hereinafter. The extended portions or reduced portions of the stationary contacts I! are indicated by the reference character 20, in Figure 5.

A further point to be noted in connection with the stationary contacts is that they are provided with outwardly and upwardly projecting extended portions arranged to receive the leads or conductors 6. These lead receiving portions of the 22. If desired, a drain plug 23 may be provided in the bottom portion 2 of the housing.

The component parts I, 2, and 3 of the casing are held together by means of tie rods 24. The tie rods 24 are all located externally of the lower portion I of the casing and are threaded into the upper portion 3 thereof, as shown most clearly in Figure 4. It is preferable to provide a gasket 25 between the portion l and the portion 3 of the casing and to ,weld the bottom 2 to the lower portion I of the casing.

The upper portion 3 of the casing, as has been previously described, is provided with a circular opening 4. This opening has relatively large rectangular notches 26 formed at diametrically opposite points, as shown in Figure 4, and has a small notch 21 formed diametrically-opposite a larger notch 28. The casing is also provided with stop pins 28 and 30, as shown in Figure 4, to define the amount of rotation allowed the combined fuse carrier and movable switch element which constitutes the rotor portion of the device.

The movable contacts are carried by a rotor indicated generally at 3|. This rotor is formed of insulating material and is adapted to be normally centrally located with reference to the concentric cylinders l2 and I3. It has an upper metal portion 32 and is provided with a relatively large rib 33 and a relatively smaller rib 34, see Figures 1 and 2, which are adapted to respectively pass through the notches 28 and 21, see Figure 4. The rotor is also provided with an upwardly projecting shaft 35 which passes through a packing gland composed of the packing 36 and the compression nut 31 carried by a head or cover 38 which is adapted to close the upper opening 4 in the casing, see Figures 1 and 2. Preferably, a gasket 39 is carried by the head 38 so as to seal against the upper edge of the casing when the head is forced downwardly by means hereinafter described. The upper end of the shaft is journaled in an overhanging portion 44 of the head 38 and is provided with a handle receiving socket member or hub 4| rigid with the shaft 35.

It is to be noted from Figures 1, 2, and 4 that the upper portion 32 of the rotor is provided with diametrically opposed outwardly projecting substantially rectangular lips 42 which are adapted to pass through the rectangular openings 28, see Figure 4, when the rotor is inserted into the casing. When the rotor is in place, these rectangular lips 42 ride beneath shouldered portions oroverhanging portions 43 of the casing and thus prevent withdrawal of the rotor in all positions except when the lugs or ears 42 are in alignment with the notches 26. When the cars 42 are in alignment with the notches 26 the rotor levers 45' on opposite sides of the rotor. I floating levers are provided with contact portions hereinafter to appear. The movable contacts of the rotor assembly are shown most clearly in Figures 6, 7, and .8 and comprise a pair of floating These 46 adapted to engage the stationary contacts I8 when the rotor is rocked to switch closed position, as shown in Figure 7 for instance. The floating levers 45 carry at their lower ends fuse link receiving means consisting of the threaded studs 41 rigid with the levers 45 and provided with thumb nuts 48 for clamping the ends of the fuse link, indicated generally by the reference character 49, by means of a pair of outwardly spring pressed supporting levers 50 pivotally supported from the rotor in brackets 5|, secured to the. rotor by means of screws 52, the screws 52 being located in recesses 53 formed in the rotor. The supporting levers 50 are pivoted to the floating levers at the free ends of the levers pins 54. They are provided with upper ends 55 which are adapted to engage stops it formed integrally with the brackets 5| when the contacts 46 of the floating levers 45 are not in engagement with the stationary contacts it, see Figure 6. springs 51 are loosely coiled about the pivot pins 58 of the supporting levers 50 and urge the lower ends of the supporting levers towards outward rocking motion, thus tending'to carry the pivot in place. The floating levers are carried 50 by means of pivot pins 54 of the floating levers outwardly. The

floating levers are provided with hearing portions 59 adjacent their lowerends arranged to contact with portions of the rotor 3| to limit the inward position of the lower ends of the levers 45.

The fuse link indicated generally at 49 is, as stated, very short in its total length. It is provided at one end with a rigid metal member 60 which is hook-shaped, as may be seen from Figure 1. At its other end it is provided with av flexible leader 5|. The leader BI and the rigid member are adapted to be clamped in place on the levers 45 by means of the thumb nuts 48. The intermediate portion of the fuse link has a very short fusible section 62 and a strain wire 53. The fusible section of the fuse link is housed within a fiber tube 64 carried by the rotor 3| and extending transversely of the rotor. The rotor 3| is preferably of oil-impregnated wood, whereas the fuse tube 64 is preferably formed of fiber to aid in the extinction of the are upon rupture of the fuse link in a well known manner. However, it is obvious that the materials of which the fuse tube 64 and the rotor 3| are composed may be varied if desired.

- bail or yoke is screw I0 is arranged to be screwed down to force the head or cover portion 38 into tight,

shown in I It is to be noted that the fuse tube 64 is an expulsion fuse tube and is open at both ends so as to allow expulsion of oil and gas from both ends of the tube on rupture of the fuse link on overload. It is apparent. therefore, that this device can withstand extremely heavy overloads without generating excessive short expulsion fuse tube 54.

When the switch is in open position. the movpressure within the when the ball is in its horizontal the position shown in Fig- .ure '6. when the switch is in closed position, the movable contacts occupy the position shown in Figure 7. It will be seen that the contact portions 46 of the floating levers 45 are pressed against able contacts occupy the stationary contacts I; and thus secure a high at the same time the fuse link switch is in open position the parts occupy the po-- sitions shown in Figure 6 and there is no tension on the fuse link. However, when theswitch is rocked to closed position, the parts occupy the positions shown in- Figure 7 and the fuse link is placed under tension.

The switch may also bemanually opened under load as the break occurs beneath the oil level and the arc is quickly extinguished. -Thismanual, is secured by rotating the opening of the switch rotor 31 about its axis.

Attention is now directed to Figures 1, 2, and 3. It will be seen that the portion 3 of the casing is provided with a pair of upstanding ears or lugs 65 which carry pivot pins or screws 66. These pivot members 65 have reduced portions 61 on which the arms of a bail or yoke. member 58 are pivotally mounted. This yoke is provided with a downwardly extending flange 69 which is arranged to contact with the upper portion 40 of the head 38, see Figure 1, when an attempt is made to rock the yoke or ball member 68 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. However the bail may be rocked in a. counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. When the in vertical position a pressure sealing When Y vertithe operating handle H may be inserted into the handle receiving 'hub portion 4| and the switch may be moved manually to either open or closed position by rotating the rotor 3|. However, when the bail or yoke 68 is rocked downwardly into the dotted line position Figure 1 and the full line position shown in Figure 3, it is clear that the two upstanding ears or portions 12 formed integrally with the yoke 68 prevent the insertion of the handle ll into the handle receiving socket 4| in either switch open or switch closed position and consequently it is impossible to operate the switch position, as dotted lines relation with the portion 3 of the casing. the parts are in this position with the bail cal, it is clear that shown in full lines in Figure 3 or in in Figure 1. v

Further it is to be noted from reference, to Figures 1, 2, and 4 that the combined rotor and fuse carrier cannot be removed from the casing, although the bail 68 may be rocked downwardly to its horizontal position, as long as the switch is in closed position as the lugs 42 are locked beneath the shouldered portions 43 of the casing and consequently preclude the removal of the rotor.

When it is desired to remove the rotor it is necessary to first rock the switch to switch open position so that the lugs 42 are in alignment with the rectangular notches 28. Thereafter the hanthe event an overload occurs,

The oil and generaeoaaiv dle is removed, the pressure screw-lll is loosened and the bail 68 is rocked to its horizontal position.

The rotor may be lifted directly upwardly. from the casing. It may be re-fused and reinserted into the casing. However, the switch cannot be rotated to switch closed positionas one of the ears I2 is in front of the handle receiving portion 4|, see Figure 3. It is necessary to rock the bail to its vertical position before the handle can be inserted in the handle receiving portion 4|. Con-- sequently, there is no danger of the operator closing the switch until the bail has been rocked to its vertical position. The natural procedure, therefore, consists of the rocking of the bail to its vertical position at which time the pressure screw is again tightened to firmly hold the head 38 in sealingrelation to the casing. Thereaftenthe handle H is inserted in the handle receiving portion 4| and the switch is rocked to switch closed position.

It is obvious that, if desired, the casing may be completely sealed from communication with the outside air as has been shown in the drawings. The casing is provided with a pair of removable screw plugs 13, see Figure 3. One or both of these screw plugs may be removed and a cushioning chamber or cushioning chambers may be screwed into the resulting opening. In place of this a suitable vent pipe or vent pipes may replace one or both of the screw plugs 13, respectively. Inasmuch as both of these features, namely, the vent pipe and the cushioning chamber are old in the art, such construction has not been shown.

Referring to Figures 9 through 12 it will be seen that this form of the invention is very similar in principle to that previously described and operates in very much the same way as that previously described. The movable contacts are indicated by the reference character 14 and are carried by the heavy spring members 15. Preferably the spring members 15 are slotted as indicated at 16 in Figure 10. The floating throwout levers of the movable contact assemblies are indicated by the reference character 11 and are pivoted as indicated at l8 on the ears 19 carried by springs 80. The springs 80 and 15 are held in place by means of the screws 52. The floating pivoted levers 11 are provided with screws 8! and with thumb nuts 82 which serve to clamp opposite ends of the fuse link. It is to be noted that a flexible conducting braid B3 is held beneath the heads 14 of the movable contacts and beneath the heads of the screws 8i so as to afford excellent electrical connection between the movable contacts 14 and the throw-out levers 11. This braid may be formed of a strip looped about the head of the screw 8| and having its ends clamped beneath the heads I4 of the movable contacts. The intermediate portion of the braid 83 is overlapped and passes through an opening 84 in the corresponding throw-out lever 11, see Figure 10. The floating throw-out levers 11 are provided with rounded upper ends 85 which bear against the inner side of the main contact springs 15.

The fuse link may be constructed as previously described and extends through the tube 64. When the fuse link ruptures on overload any remaining portion thereof is pulled out or thrown out as previously described. Also the expulsion action and the extinguishing action due to the oil takes place as previously described.

It is to be noted from Figure 11 that when the switch is in open position that there is no stress on the fuse link. The springs I! and ll move outwardly to the position shown in Figure 11. However, when the switch is moved to closed position as shown in Figure 9 the contacts ll are forced inwardly and move the upper ends 8! of the floating throw-out levers 'll inwardly. This moves the pivot points 18 of the throw-out levers 11 inwardly and moves the springs 84 inwardly and thus tensions the fuse link. Upon rupture of the fuse link the parts assume the position shown in Figure 12 and it will be seen that firm contact between the movable contacts and the stationary contacts is maintained although the springs have moved outwardly and have consequently caused the throw-out levers 11 to pull out or throw out any remaining portion of the fuse link.

It will be seen that a novel type of electrical cut-out construction of the oil fuse type has been provided by this invention which may be manually opened under load or which may be automatically opened under load with the assurance that any resulting arc will be quickly extinguished.

Further it is obvious that the device is wholly safe in use as it is impossible for the operator to either open or close the switch when the ball or yoke is in horizontal position. Access to the handle receiving portion can be had only when the ball is in its vertical position. In addition to this, the combined rotor and fuse carrier'can be inserted in only one position and when moved to switch closed position it cannot be lifted from the casing although the bail may be in horizontal position. Thus a full degree of safety is provided for the operator.

It is also clear that the novel arrangement of concentric insulating cylinders, the innermost of which carries the stationary contacts, provides for the free circulation of oil upon rupture of the fuse link or manual opening of the circuit, as these cylinders are open at their top and bottom. In addition to this, the peculiar rela-' tion between the arrangement of the leads and the concentric insulating cylinders protects the leads.

It is to be noted that the total length of the fuse link between the lower ends of the floating levers or throw-out levers is less than the distance from either of these levers to the bottom of the casing. Thus it is clear that there is no chance of any dangling portion of the fuse link shorting to the bottom of the casing when the fuse link is ruptured on overload.

It will be seen further that the device is easy to operate as no pressure is imparted to the vertical shaft of the rotor by the pressure screw of the yoke or bail portion.

It is to be noted particularly that in both forms of the invention when the switch is in open position, the fuse link is not tensioned. However, when the switch is rocked to closed position the fuse link is placed under tension and the parts are in position to execute the throwout or pull-out action on the fuse link in the event of rupture on overload.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. An oil switch comprising a casing adapted to contain oil and having an upper opening, a bail 15 pivoted to said casing and arranged to be rocked 1 9 into a vertical or horizontal position, and a removable member adapted to be inserted into said casing through said opening and including a head adapted to seat on said casing and close said opening and a rotor revolubly carried by said head and normally located within said casing, said rotor having a pair of movable contacts and a fuse joining said contacts, a pair of stationary contacts located within said casing and arranged to be electrically connected through said movable contacts and fuse when said rotor is turned to one position and to be disconnected when said rotor is turned to a second position, handle receiving means for rotating said rotor located externally of said casing, a handle detachably receivable in said handle receiving means, and means for applying pressure on said head from said ball when said ball is vertical, said ball having means for preventing the coupling of said handle and handle receiving means when said ball is in a horizontal position.

2. An oil switch comprising a casing adapted to contain oil and having an upper opening, a pair of stationary contacts located within said casing, a removable assembly including a head adapted to close said opening and a rotor revolubly suspended from said head and having a handle receiving portion located exteriorly 01' said head, a handle adapted to be removably received by said handle receiving portion, a bail pivoted 10 to said casing and adapted to be rocked into a vertical position and having means for engaging said head to prevent removal of said removable assembly when said ball is vertical, said ball having a lip arranged to engage said head to prevent rocking of said bail in one direction, said ball being rockable in the other direction to a horizontal position, said rotor having a pair of electrically connected contacts arranged to engage and disengage said stationary contacts when said rotor is rotated through the agency of said handle and handle receiving portion to switch closed or switch open position, and said ball having a pair of ears arranged to project upwardly in front of said handle receiving portion in both switch closed and switch open position when said ball is horizontal to prevent the'engagement of said handle with said handle receiving portion.

WILLIAM O. SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,161,427 Papp June 6, 1939 2,421,236 Bennett May 27, 1947 

